Island Child

The summer is long gone - and what we have now are wild and windy days. Days of muted tones and monochrome with spectacular seas, deserted windswept beaches and clear views of distant islands. As a child I can recall that everyone had two sets of clothes - winter and summer - and that these were only worn in the appropriate season. It was a red letter day, twice a year, when our parents decided that our clothes would change and we would raid the wardrobe.

It seems to me that the island has now clothed itself in its winter wardrobe - covered in different materials and colours but essentially the same familiar place. It's exciting to see how this change of clothes brings new and hidden dimensions to well-loved places - and stretches our experience of the sea and the landscape. Of course we love this 'island child' whether it has its winter or summer clothes on.

Comments

[Sue Armstrong]

I was thinking about the whole "change of clothes with the seasons" idea today Colin as it has been so very warm. I was speculating as to whether Mam would have allowed short white socks and a summer dress on such a day in APRIL -when May is not yet out so no clout should be cast - by tradition and in strict practice! Somehow I don't think she would have - she 'd have said ah yes but it could get chilly later -and kept us in winter woolies. How I longed for the short white socks to be allowed!